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The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:1-32)
A reflection on the Gospel from the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
Written by Mr Casimir Douglas
“Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours!” (Luke 15:31)
On the weekend of Sunday 11th September (23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time), at Mass for the cycle of readings for Year C from the Gospel of Luke, we hear the entirety of Chapter 15 which is composed of three different parables. However, whilst Luke’s Jesus tells three different parables in this discourse, they are all centred on the same message: God’s boundless love, forgiveness, and grace. But there are nuances in each story that make an examination of each of the ‘Three Parables’, as they are known as a collective, worthy of separate and discrete treatment and exploration. The third and final reflection of this three week cycle covers the Parable of the Prodigal Son.
The Parable of the Prodigal Son is more the story of the Prodigal Father, who we come to learn is extravagant when it comes to his sons. Indeed, both sons in the story are prodigal in their failure, and the father is prodigal in generosity.
The Parable of the Prodigal Son has the power to change us because it names human relationships so perfectly. We see ourselves in both sons; like the Younger Son we try to live our life apart and autonomously of others, and yet that pride and self-reliance breeds disconnection. And we are also capable of being the Older Son who prides himself on his obedience and faithfulness, but his relationships are characterised by a litigiousness instead of a gregariousness like that of his father.
We are instead called by Jesus out of both roles and into the transformative and loving embrace of the father. To let go of our pride, self-reliance, and blind obedience. And to trust in the loving guidance and grace of God. The Younger Son accepts the embrace, but the Older Son does not. And therefore, whilst the Younger Son returns to communion with his father, the Older Son does not. We do not even find out if he attends the feast of family, friends, father and Prodigal Son reunited and unified. Therefore, I ask you, who is the Prodigal Son in this story?
Luke writes that while the Younger Son was a long way off, his father spotted him. This suggests that all the time he was away, the father waited and waited for his return. The imagery of the father running out to embrace his son who had shamed and betrayed his whole family is quite comical. But Luke’s Jesus keeps the best for last in the words of the father that close Chapter 15, as written above: “Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours!” (Luke 15:31). It is a transformative act, a response born of pure love and grace. To the Younger Son, who had already taken half of what his father owned and squandered it, the father is prepared to give more, and not just more: all that is his.
Imagine, if you will, a world in which we give to each other all that we have. I don’t mean this financially, commercially, or economically, but to give all we have in relationship to each other. Imagine how truly transformative our relationships would be.
Friday 23rd September, 2022
The Prodigal Son: A Social Media Retelling
TMC Youth Channel (2014)
Dear Parents and Carers,
SALUTATION
Grace to you and peace.
PRINCIPAL APPOINTMENT ANNOUNCEMENT
All parents and guardians of the school community will have received this afternoon via Compass an announcement from Catholic Education Tasmania's Executive Director, Dr Gerard Gaskin, regarding the Principalship of St Thomas More's Catholic School. Please find an image of Dr Gaskin's letter below.
It is with great honour and excitement that I have accepted the substantive role of Principal of St Thomas More's Catholic School. Whilst the 2022 school year has presented it's challenges with the presence of COVID-19 in the community, the joys have far outweighed these and I am thrilled to continue in the role, and keep building on the foundation we have set for the future of our school this year.
My vision for St Thomas More's Catholic School is to be a vibrant, positive, and energetic learning community, where every child is valued, and where relationships, the Gospel, and our Josephite charism are at the heart of every aspect of our educational program. We have high expectations for student learning and student behaviour, and aim to support our students to grow into independent and confident learners, but community-minded contributors to society.
Thank you to all the students, staff, parents and carers of the St Thomas More's Catholic School community for your support and companionship on the journey this year. I look forward to journeying down the road with you all now into the future.
STM TV: ATHLETICS CARNIVAL SPECIAL!
STM TV is our school's weekly episodic YouTube show designed to share the key learning experiences of nominated students each week to engage our parents and the broader community in the learning journey of our school.
Please find below the episode for Term 3 - Week 9, 2022, our Athletics Carnival Special! It is a lengthy episode this week at just under 10 minutes. But every clip included in the footage is absolutely worth it! So much fun, colour, energy, and excitement. We hope you enjoy!
I must express my sincere gratitiude here to the staff for their organisation and encouragement of the students, to the parent volunteers for their generous gift of their time, and to Mr Nick Stacey for his coordination and leadership of the Athletics Carnival.
GOSPEL VALUE AWARDS: INTEGRITY
The following students received a Gospel Value Award during the School Assembly as nominated by their class teacher for exemplifying the Gospel value of INTEGRITY this week:
These students will also attend the Principal’s Morning Tea this coming Tuesday (27th September) morning during the first break at 10:50am with myself and Fr Chathura Silva or Fr Jesse Banez.
This past Monday 12th September, three teams from St Thomas More's Catholic School made the journey to Hobart, leaving at 6:30am in the morning to compete in Futsal Tasmania's Schools Champion of Champions Tournament.
Our Grade 6 Boys team were up against stiff competition and battled hard all day. Whilst the results didn't go their way, they represented themselves, their families, and their school with pride and were gracious in defeat.
Our Grade 5 Girls team conquered all in their path on the way to the State Championship Final and unfortunately, despite a gallant effort, fell at the final hurdle. I have no doubt that the spirit, skill, and resilience of the girls bring them back to the State Championship Final, and will go one better in 2023!
Our Grade 3 Boys team were undefeated throughout the competition on the way to the State Championship Final. In the final, they faced a team they had just narrowly beaten 2-1 earlier in the day, and were expecting a tight and tense affair. However, the boys had saved their best for last and emerged 7-1 victors in a comprehensive performance that elevated them to the title of State Champions!
I wish to congratulate all the students who competed for their commitment and pride in their school, the all the volunteer parents, coaches, and supporters who travelled with and supported the students in Hobart. Finally, I wish to express again my thanks to Mr Nick Stacey, not just for his leadership and organisation of the school's participation in this event, but for his genuine love for the game of football and his students.
FINAL GREETING
In Term 4, the school will begin the process of placing students in classes for the 2023 school year.
Please note that the placement of students into classes is a complex process that requires evaluation of a range of educational considerations including, but not limited to, gender balance, year level balance, student ability, peer relationships, social and emotional needs, behavioural needs, learning needs, and environmental needs.
If you have significant concerns regarding your child's class placement for the 2023 school year, please email the Principal, Mr Casimir Douglas, casimir.douglas@catholic.tas.edu.au and not to your child's classroom teacher. However, please note that there are no guarantees that any requests from parents and guardians regarding their child's class placement can be accommodated. Therefore, the parent community must understand this context before communicating a request.
Details relating to class and teacher allocation will be communicated to parents and guardians in due course during Term 4.
If your family are not returning to St Thomas More's Catholic School in 2023 (excluding students leaving Year 6 2022), please email stm@catholic.tas.edu.au to advise.
Below is the 2023
On Wednesday the 15th of September the SES volunteers, Neil and Frances, came to talk to all the 5/6 classes. They explained how to prepare and what to do before and during floods and also what to do after a flood happens. They explained why you should not go in flood waters because there can be sewage, sticks and dead animals which can cause disease.
Did you know that your car can float and be moved in 15cm of water so that's why you should not drive in flood waters? Neil and Fraces showed us their modified vehicle which had a large torch, a catapult that launches rope across rivers/buildings, jaws of life to help get people out of crashed cars and chainsaws to chop trees when they were over a road etc. They told us to have something called an emergency kit/Go bag in your emergency kit/go bag you will need your personalized list of emergency supplies etc. They told us important phone numbers to call in case of emergency such as:
Tasmania Police
Enquiries: 131 444
Emergency: 000
Emergency Service
Enquiries: 03 6336 3790
Emergency: 132 500
Ambulance
Enquiries: 1800 000 008
Emergency: 000
By Alex Smart and Mary Boyle
Congratulations to Foram Garaniya, Zackery Matthews and Zachary Richards for reaching 25 stickers in their Student Acknowledgement booklet.
We also congratulate the below students this week for the below student awards:
A reminder that the strings soiree will take place on 28th September 2022 at 5:00pm at St Patrick's College, in the Nano Nagle Gymnasium. Students
will need to arrive at 4:30pm for tuning to take place.
Woo hoo! It’s time to start fundraising! ??
Students have received their sponsorship booklet and can now create their online profile at www.australianfundraising.com.au.
Big prizes are up for grabs! Raise at least $10 and your child will receive a selection of awesome prizes. You can also share in $200k of extra prize credit, win a Razor Prize Pack, and become a Fundraising MonSTAR! ⭐
#schoolrun4fun #funrun #australianfundraising #fundraising #colourexplosion